It's almost release day for Blue Moon Cowboy!
When I saw the cover for sale from one of my favorite designers, I knew I had to have it. She'd put "Blue Moon Cowboy" as the title as a placeholder, but I loved it.
So, I decided to write a story to match the cover, and ended up using an older couple who had no intention of falling in love.
Once in a Blue Moon is such a fun phrase. Did you know it's been kicking around for more than 400 years?
The earliest known recording of a "blue moon" appeared in a 1528 pamphlet by William Roy and Jerome Barlowe. Back then, saying "the moon is blue" was synonymous with something completely impossible or untrue—much like saying "pigs can fly."
By the 19th century, the phrase began shifting to mean something highly unlikely but possible. This is because massive volcanic eruptions (such as Krakatoa in 1883) and forest fires (like the 1951 Canadian wildfires) threw dust and smoke high into the atmosphere, which really did make the moon appear pale blue.
The Maine Farmers' Almanac popularized the term in the 19th century, defining a "blue moon" as the third full moon in a season that contained four instead of the usual three.
Regardless of where or when the term originated, it sure fits the cowboy in my story.
Widower Jason Price isn’t looking for romance. As a trusted pickup man for the Rockin’ K Rodeo Company, part-owner of his family’s ranch, and a proud grandpa, his days—and his heart—are already full. Love is for younger folks with fewer scars and more time.
Photographer Lainey Collins traded corporate life for the open road, capturing the faces and stories of everyday people. Living out of her travel van, she’s built a life of freedom, purpose, and just enough distance to keep her heart safe.
But when a chance meeting at a rodeo puts her in Jason’s orbit, everything begins to shift.
As Lainey sets out to create a book featuring the faces of the rodeo, she finds herself returning again and again—to the arena… and to Jason. What begins as a project turns into something deeper as sparks fly, laughter comes easy, and two guarded hearts start to open.
Falling in love is one thing.
But trusting it—and daring to build a future—is another.
Can a cowboy who’s learned to live without love and a woman who’s always kept moving finally find a place to belong… together?
USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.
Today, Shanna draws on her rural roots to create sweet and wholesome romances filled with hope, humor, quirky small-town characters, realistic heroes, and women of strength. Her historical westerns have been described as historically accurate, blending facts with engaging fiction, while her contemporary works have been called laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and heartwarming.
When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.
To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website.
He’s spent decades guarding his heart.
She’s spent a lifetime chasing the horizon.
Neither of them were prepared for love to catch them by surprise.
Widower Jason Price isn’t looking for romance. As a trusted pickup man for the Rockin’ K Rodeo Company, part-owner of his family’s ranch, and a proud grandpa, his days—and his heart—are already full. Love is for younger folks with fewer scars and more time.
Photographer Lainey Collins traded corporate life for the open road, capturing the faces and stories of everyday people. Living out of her travel van, she’s built a life of freedom, purpose, and just enough distance to keep her heart safe.
But when a chance meeting at a rodeo puts her in Jason’s orbit, everything begins to shift.
As Lainey sets out to create a book featuring the faces of the rodeo, she finds herself returning again and again—to the arena… and to Jason. What begins as a project turns into something deeper as sparks fly, laughter comes easy, and two guarded hearts start to open.
Falling in love is one thing.
But trusting it—and daring to build a future—is another.
Can a cowboy who’s learned to live without love and a woman who’s always kept moving finally find a place to belong… together?
USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.
Today, Shanna draws on her rural roots to create sweet and wholesome romances filled with hope, humor, quirky small-town characters, realistic heroes, and women of strength. Her historical westerns have been described as historically accurate, blending facts with engaging fiction, while her contemporary works have been called laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and heartwarming.
When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.
To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website.
1 comment:
Isn't it amazing how we see something and then our minds build an entire story around that image? I'm so happy that happened for you, Shanna! Wishing you all the best on what sounds like a wonderful read.
Post a Comment